Mikel Arteta says Noni Madueke has been Arsenal’s standout player in training

Mikel Arteta says Noni Madueke has been Arsenal’s best player in training over the past 10 days after the winger impressed in an unfamiliar position during the 2-1 win over Leeds.

Arsenal recovered from their 3-0 Premier League defeat by Brighton and Hove Albion before the international break with a comeback victory at Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

Leeds went ahead after 55 minutes when James Justin finished to give the visitors the lead. Arsenal responded seven minutes later, with Riccardo Calafiori scoring from close range after being set up by Ben White.

Bruno Guimaraes, who joined Arsenal from Newcastle in the transfer window, completed the turnaround eight minutes afterwards with a well-taken finish from the edge of the penalty area.

However, despite Guimaraes’ decisive contribution, it was Madueke who received particular praise from Arteta.

The 24-year-old started on the left wing in Arsenal’s 4-2-3-1 formation and played the full 90 minutes. He attempted three shots without finding the target, created three chances, made one interception and delivered six crosses, five of which were accurate.

Madueke was selected on the left instead of Eberechi Eze, while Christos Tzolis was unavailable through injury. Arteta explained that the winger’s work during the international break had given him little choice but to include him against Leeds.

“I’m really happy because he deserved the chance that he got and he grabbed it with both hands,” said the Arsenal manager.

“When I haven’t liked so much what he was doing or he wasn’t impacting the game, I made certain decisions. He has accepted them.

“What he’s done is raise the level and in training he’s been the best player in the last 10 days.

“He gave me no option not to select him and not to play him today. You could see that every time he was in and around the ball, he looked a threat.”

Arteta said Arsenal had been determined to respond to their disappointing performance against Brighton and restore the standards expected of them.

“Before the game we talked about two things: the challenge ahead against a team that hadn’t lost in the Premier League and the second to restore our identity,” he said.

“We weren’t pleased about what we did against Brighton and today we had a chance to make it right.

“We wanted to prove we are something special and unique.”

The Arsenal manager also acknowledged the physical challenge posed by Leeds, who continued to threaten after taking the lead.

“They are very physical and committed in what they do,” Arteta said.

“We didn’t finish in some great areas in the first half and they kept running.

“It’s incredible the way they attack the box. They could’ve punished us in one or two moments in the first half and then they did. It’s a good testament to the league.”